March 03, Colombo (LNW): The Petroleum Distributors’ Association has raised significant concerns over the government’s apparent plans to transfer ownership of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC)-owned filling stations to foreign entities.
Kusum Sandanayake, the Vice-Chairman of the association, expressed his worry that the government is actively working towards this objective, which he claims could have serious implications for local businesses and the national economy.
In response to another pressing issue, Sandanayake also revealed that the association plans to visit the Presidential Secretariat this (03) morning to submit a formal memorandum addressing their concerns about the recent reduction in the 03 per cent commission paid to filling station owners.
This move has been met with resistance from local distributors, who argue that the cut undermines their ability to sustain their operations.
Meanwhile, distributors associated with Lanka IOC fuel have announced a halt in placing fuel orders due to mounting financial losses. Kosala Vidana Arachchi, Chairman of Lanka IOC, explained that the influence exerted by CPC has led to a significant loss of approximately Rs. 35,000 per order, making it increasingly difficult for distributors to operate under these conditions.
This development has raised concerns within the industry about the fairness and sustainability of the current fuel distribution system.
In a related development, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa speaking at a public gathering in Nochchiyagama accused the government of failing to address the critical issues surrounding fuel distribution.
Premadasa charged that the government’s lack of a clear vision or strategy has led to a series of problems in the sector, which continues to affect both distributors and consumers.
He emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to resolve the ongoing challenges and ensure the stability of the fuel supply system.
